Glamour Redefined: Inside Plastique Tiara’s Schön! Magazine Photo Shoot
May 7, 2024
It was a misty February morning as I unloaded my car. The location of the day was in Hawthorne, far from where I usually shoot in Los Angeles. I can’t recall how long I had been planning this shoot, but it was probably a little over a month. Finally, the day arrived when I would shoot my subject: Plastique Tiara.
I first discovered Plastique under her government name [redacted] in 2013. I was an avid fan of Tyra Banks and America’s Next Top Model (still am, controversies aside #WhatItTakes), and she had posted Plastique several times on her Instagram page. Imagine my surprise when more than 10 years later, I see her on my TV screen as a contestant on RuPaul’s Drag Race.
During Plastique’s original run on season 11 of the hit MTV/VH1 show, she quickly became a fan favorite and placed 8th overall in the competition. Since, she has amassed more than 11.6 million followers on TikTok and is the reigning queen of TikTok! I was instantly on board when I heard she would be making her highly anticipated return for All-Stars 9 and put together this concept for her.
Plastique arrived with her face beat for the gods (yes mawma) and throughout the shoot was a consummate professional. She was the true definition of glamour, an effortless beauty. One of my favorite things is when I don’t have to give the model direction, and I let them inspire me. Plastique breezed through the shoot with her elegant movements and allowed me to create such captivating imagery. It was obvious she had years of experience, because this was not something you learn just from watching ANTM. We ended wrapping 2 hours early, which is a feat! And the spread turned out beautifully, if I do say so myself.
With this shoot, I wanted to create something that was very simple and glamorous to showcase Plastique’s beauty, but still very dramatic (as drag often is). So I opted for a simple gray and white backdrop with a one-light setup. After I put the concept together, I assembled my team whom I fully trusted to make my vision come to life. I had worked with hair and makeup artist Kay Cunningham before on a previous editorial and she was super excited to work with Plastique as well. She then brought on board her friend Karolina Frechowicz as our fashion stylist. I had wanted to work with Karolina for some time so of course I said yes! On video, I had my friend Philíp Alexander. He and I had met on my birthday for a SHEIN project and I remember being stunned by what he achieved in-camera. Lucky for me, his girlfriend is a big fan of Plastique and he said yes to the shoot!
To round out the team, I had Matt Gerety assist Philíp and I on photo and video. I had never worked with Matt before, but maybe 6 months prior, he had e-mailed me regarding a summer internship. I didn’t have any projects at the time, but I remember being very impressed with his work. I referred him to my friend Irvin Rivera at Graphics Metropolis, and they ended up working together on various projects. When this project came along, and I asked around for assistance, once again Matt reached out and I’m glad he did. He was immensely helpful because of his quick thinking and willingness to contribute, and I loved having him on set.
It was a fairly small production, which meant I had to wear many hats. Luckily Plastique’s publicist Jamie Veal was also there to be another set of eyes for me and help art direct.
Now, as the world finally gets to see our collaboration in Schön! Magazine, I’m filled with gratitude for the opportunity to showcase the transformative power of fashion through the lens of drag. It really is a testament to the timeless allure of self-expression and the enduring legacy of icons like Plastique Tiara.
photographer Ty Chen @tychenphotography
fashion stylist Karolina Frechowicz @karolinafre
hair and makeup Plastique Tiara @plastiquetiara
grooming and touch-ups Kay Cunningham @makeupbykayce
video Philíp Alexander @philipalxndr
photo and video assistant Matt Gerety @d1gitalfacelift
interview Alper Kurtul @alperkurtul
Plastique Tiara’s PR team Jamie Veal and Hannah Andriuzzo at Persona PR
Read the full interview: https://schonmagazine.com/interview-plastique-tiara/
Till next time, stay fierce.
Want to capture your own moment of glamour? Whether you’re a drag superstar, a fashion maven, or someone simply ready to showcase your unique style, let’s make magic together! Drop me a message, and let’s turn your vision into reality.